You might have heard from Simon that our next series will be a collection of reflections on modern ethical questions. We’d like to know what kind of things our congregations are interesting in addressing, so we’ve put together a short survey.

Saturday the women of OVACC came together for morning tea. They heard from Yui on her journey from Thailand to Australia, and how she moved from Buddhism to trusting that Jesus was her Lord and Saviour. Of interest was her reflections on the difference between praying as a Buddhist, to praying to a personal Lord who loves her.

All past and current members and supporters of Oxley Vale Anglican Community Church are invited to join us in celebrating 25 years of Christian ministry in the Oxley Vale area at two special events – a celebration dinner on Saturday 16 July and a combined thanksgiving church service on Sunday 17 July.

To mark the occasion, we are launching the ‘Building Ministry Fund,’ aimed at securing and expanding gospel ministry in the area into the future. Would you please consider contributing a one-off gift to this appeal? Donations can be made at both events or directly via ‘Oxley Vale Anglican Community Church’, BSB 032621 Acct: 309306.

Contemplating fishing, and what to do if one bitesPraying in the rain. The Megaphone is so we can hear over the rainHolding the eating area down in the windHolding the eating area down in the windMarshmallows and camp fire after the storm

On Sunday 13th, the 8am and 10am church gatherings will combine for a 9am service, to be followed by a Special General Meeting to approve the church budget for January-June 2016.

The combined service will feature a special nativity presentation by the children in our 10am Sunday School. Our monthly Trading Table will also be in operation, with money raised supporting our annual holiday kid’s club.

Following the Special General Meeting, attendees are invited back to Tom and Caz Magill’s for a pot-luck lunch.

At OVACC we have a family on exchange from Canada. They were sad that they would miss thanksgiving in Canada, so as a church family we have joined them in a great day giving thanks to God for many things, including the family from all over the world united by Christ. OVACC is a church with members from many cultures. It was a great day that we could spend together.

OVACC Church along with the Anglican Diocese of Armidale partner the North Kigezi Diocese in Uganda. Maama Eva from North Kigezi Diocese spoke to the women of OVACC. She spent time outlining some of the great work Mothers Union was undertaking in her diocese helping families in poverty through income generating projects like piggeries and coffee growing

Tamworth has almost 1800 Ashley Madison accounts according to the Sydney Morning Herald, which the newspaper describes as being almost 5% of the postcode. For some of the neighbouring towns the numbers and percentage are higher.

OVACC is a safe place for hurting families and for couples wanting to reconcile their relationships. We recognise that we are all broken in some way and need help. At OVACC we have been involved with helping people who are hurt through adultery, broken relationships, divorce and porn addictions.

If you are struggling, either because you have hurt someone or been hurt, and you would like to see if it’s possible to fix things with God and your spouse then it’s possible we can help.

You can talk to me, another of our staff team, or an experienced Christian couple and can find us either on Sunday at 10:00 at Oxley Vale Public School or call 02 6761 7271 for a confidential chat.

Here’s a short message from a friend of mine that you might like to watch or listen to as you attempt to process what is happening with some thoughts on what to do now.

Over the last couple of weeks we have been thinking about Christianity and Science. We have been looking at the idea that Science and Christianity are not enemies but rather are intertwined through history and the desire to understand the world that God has made.

Our first week we discussed that God has made a world that is ordered and discussed the discipline of science. That is, the desire to know God’s world. (Gen 1)

We then looked at how the bible uses miracles. If God upholds and sustains the world through his divine will, then everything that happens is part of that will and his knowledge. This means, whether what seems to occur under natural processes and ‘laws’, or even ‘supernatural’, these are part of the world that is being upheld by God.

Finally we though about the world that we live in is a reflection of God’s character and purpose. The world is ordered because God is ordered and is not fickle (Ex 34:5-7). Also there is a purpose for this creation. That purpose is to glorify Himself (Colossi ans 1:16) and for us to live in this world (Is 45:18 and Ps 104).

So how do we now live? We live wisely in God’s world (Prov 3:19-20 and Jer 10:12). To live wisely means that we recognise that God is God and we need to be reconciled to him in Jesus. Then in response to that, we will live with respect to the creation that God has made.

On Saturday the 28th February join us for our Parish Dinner. Hear from +Rick Lewers on Evangelism, pray together and encourage one another. Please RSVP to Simon or Yvonne or via email on the contact page.